14/05/09 (Friday)
Today we were not just sitting back or relax in the hotel after yesterday whole day journey. Yet we continued our quest to the south of Damascus to Bosra, which is located at the north of the current Syria-Jordan border. This time we were riding a smaller van, with a well known driver among the Malaysian students there: Yassin.
In Syria, the Malaysian students called the male students as Syabab while the female students as akhawaat. The – are encouraged to wear hijab covering their face except their eyes as to avoid seduce and sexual harassment by the unethical outsiders.
The journey to Bosra only took about one and a half hour. We first took a walk around the citadel, which was still remained the old buildings (though remnants left) like houses, mosques and hammam manjak.
This place was initially built by Rome, which influenced its architectural buildings, like the underground bazaar, Arch of Victory and al-Kalybe (the bed of the King’s bed).
There is also famous Church of Bahira, the monk who met with the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) when he was a kid, on his journey to Bosrah. Bahira gave him the glad tidings of his prophet hood and embraced Islam since then.
After Islamic ruling to the city, there are many mosques with names of related to the Prohet Muhammad (pbuh) like Umar al-Khattab (the oldest mosque in Syria and the fourth oldest mosque in the world) and Saidatina Fatimah. Masjid al-Mabrak is claimed to be the place of the Prophet’s camel kneeled down during his visit to Bosra.
The amazing thing I found here was that I could see people still leaving in the area with the past, happily and comfortably. The kids are playing at the historical remnants of buildings and rocks while most other kids nowadays are playing with computer games and play station. Two separate different world I suppose…
There is also a theatre in Bosra, whisch is much bigger than in Aleppo. It was buil in the 2nd century A.D. and is considered as the only complete theatre in the world that still preserves all its sections and structural elements from the Roman era. It can accommodate more than 10,000 people and split into 3 levels separated by walkways consisting of 37 steps. It was soo curam that I felt so gayat while being on the topmost stairs. I was not dare to walk down the stairs to the main stage.
After had an adventurous day in Bosra, we went to Daraa, the place of Maqam of Prophet Ayub and his son. We then stopped by at Maqam Imam Nawawi at Nawaa. MashaAllah, a large tree grew on its own above his grave and he is well known as Prophet Muhammad Hadith compilers but died at early age of 40s and not married. It is said that his work of writings are more than the number of his age when he died. Subhanallah, may Allah bless his soul.
Today lunch was a fiest. We were warmly welcomed by the van driver to his home at Nawaa. We were served with trays of mountainous rice and lambs. A lamb was orderd to be qurban for our lunch on that day. There were about three people for each tray and I can say that as we ate, the dish seemed not changing, still many. Very very full…
Source:
- Bosra History and Ruins by Suloeiman al Shahma
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